Trophy construction



Sept 19, 1967 F. A. MARINO 3,341,956

TROPHY CONSTRUCTION Filed July 15, 1965 Frank A. Marino BY 16/ 44/ Vile@ ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,341,956 TROPHY CGNSTRUCTION Frank A. Marino, 855 E. 7th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11230 Filed `luly 13, 1965, Ser. No. 471,590 8 Claims. (Cl. 40-1) This invention relates to a trophy construction and more particularly concerns a trophy construction of the type indicating the relative competitive position of the winner thereof.

Trophies awarded for excellence on a competitive basis in sports, dancing, sedentary activities and the like, are made in multiple forms to distinguish first place, second place and third place winners thereof in a given competition. This is normally accomplished by varying the height of the usual pedestal portion carrying a figure emblematic of the particular sport or other activity, relative to the conventional base of the trophy. Thus, the pedestal for first place winner is at a maximum height, while that for the third place winner is at a minimum height; as measured above a uniform base portion. Obviously, this requires three or more distinct trophy constructions for awards at a given competitive event, and since a substantial proportion of trophy constructions are formed of molded plastic, three or more molds are required which vary only as to the height of the pedestal portion forming part thereof.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved trophy construction in the form of a single set of component elements, using a single set of molds to form the same from plastic; such set of elements being adapted to be preassembled to form a nished article to selectively indicate a first, second or third place award.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved trophy construction of the universal type, which includes a base member and a subbase member carrying the usual ligure or symbol relating to the activity concerned, wherein the subbase member may be located at selected levels above the base member to indicate the rela.- tive competitive position of the winner thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a trophy construction ofthe character described having novel means for positioning the subbase member at selected levels above the base member, such positioning means being unobtrusive and ineffective to mar the ornamental appearance of the trophy.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved trophy construction which permits the carrying of a minimum inventory of trophy items since a single set of components may be assembled to produce a nished trophy for award to a rst, second or third place winner.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings, FIG. l is a front elevational View of a trophy construction embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view with parts in section, showing the subbase assembly; and

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view showing details of the upright portions of the device.

The trophy construction embodying the invention comprises essentially a base member, which may be of more or less standardized design including selected basic ornamental surface features, and includes a pair of laterally spaced uprights, upstanding from the top at surface thereof. In addition, there is provided a separate subbase of standardized design on which a figure or sculpture emblematic of the activity to which the trophy pertains, is deta-chably mounted; thus allowing selected figures to be mounted on such subbase. The subbase is adapted to be disposed between the uprights and to be Secured thereto at any one of several levels to locate the figure thereon at varied elevations relative to the base, thereby indicating the competitive position of the award.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. l, 2, 10 designates a trophy construction embodying the invention. The same cornprises a base member generally indicated at 11 and a subbase member and ligure assembly, generally indicated at 12, which assembly is adapted to be positioned at selected levels above a base portion 13 of the base member 11.

The base member 11 of generally rectangular shape, preferably formed as a one piece molding of a selected plastic such as polystyrene, polyvinyl copolymer, cellulose acetate, polypropylene, or the like, comprises said base portion 13 having a flat top surface 14, parallel end surfaces 15, a front surface 16, a rear surface 17 and a bottom surface 18.

A pair of upright portions 19 in laterally spaced relation, extend vupwardly from top surface 14 of base portion 13, said upright portions being located adjacent the rear surface 17 and end surfaces 15.

The upright portions 19 comprise vertical, opposed, parallel surfaces 20; front surfaces 21 which may have a selected ornamental molded appearance, top surfaces 22, and at rear surfaces 23.

The subbase member and ligure assembly 12 comprises a subbase member 25, which may be molded of plastic and is of rectangular shape and dimensions, so as to fit between the opposed surface portions 20 of upright portions 19. The subbase member 25 comprises a at top surface 26, parallel end surfaces 27, a molded front surface 28, a rear surface 29 and a bottom surface 30.

The subbase member 25 is adapted to have mounted ou its top surface 26, a ligure 31 emblematic of the competitive activity for which the award is to be made. Such figure 31 may be of cast metal, plastic or the like, and includes a flat base portion 32 from which depends a threaded stud 33. The gure 31 has its base portion 32 in contact with top surface 26 with stud 33 passing through a vertical bore 34 formed in surface 26 and terminating in a counterbore 35 opening on bottom surface 30. Thus, a nut 36 may be screwed on stud 33 to lock ligure 31 in place on subbase member 25.

Means is provided for mounting subbase member and ligure assembly 12 on upright portions 19 at selected levels above top surface 14 of base portion 13. To this end, the opposed surface portions 20 are formed at vertically spaced intervals with parallel, horizontally disposed grooves 37; opposed pairs of grooves being in horizontal alignment. Grooves 37, open at their rear ends in rear surfaces 23 and terminate at their forward ends short of front surfaces 21, for the reasons hereinafter appearing.

Further, the subbase member 25 includes a pair of spline elements 38 located and embedded in end surfaces 27 thereof, said elements 38 being colevel and disposed at a point medially of top surface 26 and bottom surface 30.

As shown in FIG. l, the assembly 12 is adapted to be mounted on upright portions 19, by introducing said assembly 12 from the rear of said upright portions 19 to align spline elements 38 with a selected pair of opposed grooves 37 and upon forward movement thereof, end surfaces 27 of member 25 will pass between opposed surface portions 20 of upright portions 19; the spline elements 38 being received in grooves 37. The forward movement of member 25 is limited by the closed forward ends of grooves 37, thus locating the member 25 with its rear surface 29 adjacent rear surface 23 of upright portions 19. Also, a forward portion of member 25 will be projected forwardly of the front surfaces 21 of upright portions 19, to properly locate figure 31 relative to base portion 13 and upright portions 19.

As shown in FIG. 1, in full lines, member 25 is in its lowermost position, with bottom surface 30 thereof lying on top surface 14 of base portion 13. In this position, the trophy is indicative of a 3rd place award.

Obviously, member 25 may be alternatively located in raised positions relative to top surface 14 of base portion 13, by selection of an appropriate pair of grooves 37 at a desired level, to receive spline elements 38 of member 2S. In this manner a second place award may be indicated by placement of member 25 at an intermediate level on upright portions 19, or a first place award by placement of member 25 at an upper level of said upright portions 19, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 1.

The showing of ve sets of grooves 37 in upright portions 19, permits variations in the speciiic levels appropriate to indicate 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards. Such levels are suited to the specific lateral proportions of a selected ligure 31, which may require clearance relative to upright portions 19, and thus may require the location of :member 25 in a raised set of grooves 37 An ornamental background is provided for figure 31, and to this end a thin rectangular plate 39 of metal or the like and of suitable color and surface finish, is mounted to fill the space therebetween on uprights 19. To this end, upright portions 19 are formed throughout the length thereof with vertical grooves 40 in opposed surface portions 20, adjacent rear surfaces 23. Grooves 40 are in lateral alignment to slidably receive the side edges 41 of plate 39.

As vertical grooves 4% intersect the horizontal grooves 37 on upright portions 19, plate 39, when in place, is also effective to prevent rearward movement of base member and iig-ure assembly 12, after the same has been suitably located on upright portions 19.

Since grooves 37 are quite narrow, the grooves not in use, are relatively inconspicuous, and do not detract from the overall appearance of the trophy.

The front side surface 16 of base member 11 is recessed as at 42 and formed with laterally spaced vertical grooves 43 at the opposite ends thereof, to removably receive a rectangular plate 44. Plate 44 is adapted to be engraved or otherwise formed on its outer surface with suitable indicia relating to the event, award winner, etc.

While base member 11 and subbase member 25 are preferably formed of molded plastic, it is understood that the same may be formed of other suitable materials including wood, metal and the like.

As various changes might be made in the embodiment of the invention herein shown without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter herein described or illustrated is not limiting except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A trophy construction comprising a base member, a pair of laterally spaced upright members upstanding from said -base members, a subbase member disposed between said upright members and arranged for vertical movement therebetween, trophy emblem means mounted on said subbase member and coacting means on opposed portions of said upright members and said subbase member for selectively interengaging said subbase member with said upright members to locate said subbase member at selected vertically spaced levels on said upright members to thereby adjust the elevation of said subbase member relative to said base member.

2. A trophy construction as in claim 1 wherein said coacting means comprises vertically spaced groove means on opposed surface portions of said upright members, each groove means on one upright member being laterally `aligned with groove means on the other upright member, and spline means on opposite sides of said subbase member receivable in selected pairs of laterally opposed groove means -on said upright members.

3. A trophy construction as in claim 2 wherein each groove means opens at one end on a rear surface of said upright members and terminates at the other end thereof short of the front surface of said upright members whereby to limit the forward movement of the spline means of said subbase members in said groove means relative to said front surface of said upright members.

4. A trophy construction as in claim 2 wherein each upright member includes vertically disposed groove means located adjacent the rear surfaces thereof, and a background member having laterally related side edge portions slidably receivable in said vertically disposed groove means to locate said background means rearwardly of said trophy emblem means and for limiting rearward movement of said subbase member in said vertically spaced groove means.

5. A molded plastic trophy construction comprising a -base member having a flat top surface, a 'pair of laterally spaced upright members extending upwardly from the top surface of said base member, said upright members having opposed parallel surface portions to provide a uniform spacing therebetween, a subbase member having parallel end surfaces, said end surfaces having a spacing substantially equal to the spacing between the opposed surface portions of said upright members, said subbase member having at least the rear portion thereof receivable between said upright members, trophy emblem means mounted on a top surface portion of said subbase member, said upright members being formed with vertically spaced, laterally aligned pairs of groove means on the opposed surface portions thereof, said subbase member including spline portions projecting from said opposite end surfaces thereof for reception in a selected pair of aligned groove means on said upright members to locate said subbase member at a predetermined level above the top surface of said base member.

6. A trophy construction as in claim 5 wherein said subbase member includes a forward portion projecting forwardly beyond the front surfaces of said upright members, and a rear surface adjacent the rear surface of said upright members.

7. A trophy construction as in claim 6 wherein said upright members are formed throughout the length thereof with vertically extending, laterally aligned groove means on the opposed surface portions thereof, said vertically extending groove means being located adjacent the rear surfaces of said upright members and in intersecting relation to said vertically spaced pairs of groove means thereon, and a background plate having laterally disposed side edge portions slidably received in said vertically extending groove means the rear surface of said subbase member abutting the front surface portion of said plate whereby to limit the horizontal outward movement yof said subbase member relative to said upright members.

8. A trophy construction comprising a base member, upright means extending upwardly from a top surface portion of said base member, a subbase member, trophy emblem means removably mounted on said subbase member, and means on laterally opposed portions of said upright means and said subbase member coacting to removably interengage said subbase member with said upright means at selected vertically spaced positions on said upright means to thereby selectively adjust the elevation of said subbase member relative t-o said base member, whereby to spatially indicate a relative award position to the receiver of said trophy construction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,440,129 4/1948 Thompson 40-125 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. W. I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TROPHY CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED UPRIGHT MEMBERS UPSTANDING FROM SAID BASE MEMBERS, A SUBBASE MEMBER DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS AND ARRANGED FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, TROPHY EMBLEM MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUBBASE MEMBER AND COACTING MEANS ON OPPOSED PORTIONS OF SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS AND SAID SUBBASE MEMBER FOR SELECTIVELY INTERENGAGING SAID SUBBASE MEMBER WITH SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS TO LOCATE SAID SUBBASE MEMBER AT SELECTED VERTICALLY SPACED LEVELS ON SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS TO THEREBY ADJUST THE ELEVATION OF SAID SUBBASE MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID BASE MEMBER. 